Container



' Aug. 15, 1967 G, DU N 3,335,899

CONTAINER Filed April 14, 1965 INVENTOR.

LLOYD G. DUNN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,335,899 CQNTAINER Lloyd G.Dunn, Richmond, Ind., assignor to Aluminum Company of America,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 14, 1965, Ser.No. 448,023 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE Acontainer having a scored tear out panel designed to be removed manuallyby means of an attached opening tab. The tear out panel is defined bytwo joined score lines spaced from each other to form a tear strip whichextends from the area of the opening tab attachment toward the peripheryof the panel. The inside score line diverges from the outside score lineand terminates in an acute inwardly directed arc, which configurationprevents severance of the tear strip across its width during opening.

This invention relates to containers having an opening tab attached toan end wall provided with a tear-out section so that the container maybe opened manually, without the use of a special opening tool. Moreparticularly, the invention is advantageously employed in suchcontainers as are used for solids or semi-solids Where a large openingin the container is desired to facilitate easy access to the contents.

Easy opening means for containers have been found particularly useful onmetal cans. In such application, the opening tab is often attached to atear-out section of a metal can end, which end is then joined to the canbody in a conventional manner, as by double seaming. This invention isquite useful in such application, or any application in which a tab isattached to the end of a container made entirely of metal or in part ofsuch materials as cellulose fiber, foil and cellulose fiber laminate,glass or plastic.

The tab opening container end wall for solid or semisolid product hasheretofore been primarliy the peripheral tear strip type where twosubstantially parallel score lines extend around the end wall of thecontainer in close proximity to the periphery. The panel of the end wallcircumscribed by the peripheral tear strip is removed by exertingopening force on the tab to initially rupture the score lines formingthe tear strip and continuing such rupture along both lines to removethe entire peripheral tear strip. The means of gaining access to thecontainer product is not well adapted to large diameter container endsparticularly, as the tear strip is quite long in over-all length and itbecomes awkward to handle while the container is being opened. A personopening such containers having this type of score configuration has atendency to release his grip on the tab and grasp the tear strip therebybecoming susceptible to injury by cutting his fingers or hand. Moreover,such tear strip opening arrangement has a tendency near the completionof the tear strip and panel removal process to have a portion of the endwall panel dip into the contents of the container and flip some of theproduct out.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container with animproved score configuration for a full panel tear out end wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container with ascore configuration that eliminates a long tear strip for a full paneltear-out of an end wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved scoreconfiguration for a container end wall that has a tab opening deviceattached to it for opening without the use of a special opening tool,that eliminates a ice long tear strip for a full panel tear-out sectionof the container end wall.

The invention in respect of the foregoing and other features andadvantages will be understood from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a top of a can utilizing theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container shown in FIG.1 showing the score configuration without the opening tab attached.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the contaner shown in FIG. 1partially opened;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternate score configuration within theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another alternate score configuration withinthe invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention may be employed in connectedwith a container such as a metal can body 1, provided with an end wallsuch as a metal can end 2, to which an opening tab 8 is attached. Boththe container end wall 2 and the tab 8 are made of sheet metal,preferably aluminum, but other ductile metals may be used. Other typesof container bodies may be utilized, such as those of glass, foil andfiber laminate, or plastic. The container end wall 2 is scored orweakened along line 3, which has its starting point near the center ofthe end wall 2 and extends arcuately therefrom toward the periphery ofthe end wall to a point '13, and then around the entire periphery inclose proximity to the chime 4 formed by double seaming the end wall 2to the can body 1. The second or inner score line 5 also starts near thecenter of the end wall 2. The first score line 3 and the second scoreline 5 meet at a point 6 close to the center of the end wall 2 to formcontinuous scoring. The startting end 7 of the tear strip enclosedwithin the score lines 3 and 5 is the portion of the tear strip to whichthe opening tab 8 is attached by any suitable means. The opening tab maybe of the rigid lever type or the flexible inelastic type. FIGS. 1 and 3show a rigid lever type tab provided with reinforcing ribs 12. Thecommon method of attaching the opening tab to the container end wall isby an integral rivet 9 formed from the metal of the end wall 2 so thatthe end wall is continuous, without any break in the metal, thusassuring a hermetically sealed container. The opening tab 8, however,may be joined to the starting end 7 of the tear strip by welding,soldering, separate rivet or any other suitable means of attachment.

The second score line 5 also extends from near the center of the endwall 2 at substantially equal distances from the first score line 3 overa distance defining a short tear strip portion between the starting endnear the center of the end wall 2 and the periphery of the end wall. Thefirst score line 3 extends around the periphery of the end wall and thesecond score line 5 diverges gradually from the peripheral first scoreline a short distance from the point 13 on the periphery of the end walland terminates in an acute inwardly directed are 10 of about 270. Thisare 10 is of particular importance as without it the desirable openingcharacteristics may not be achieved. After initially rupturing the endwall 2 by exerting force on the opening tab 8, the score lines 3 and 5begin to sever and the tear strip portion 11 beginning at the startingend 7 separates from the end wall 2. As the tearing of the two scorelines continues, it reaches the periphery of the end Wall at the point13, then the tearing continues primarily along the outer score line 3around the periphery of the end wall. The te-ar strip portion 11 is ofsuficient length and is narrow enough so that the strip will twist inthe shape of a helix as the score line 3 is being severed around theperiphery of the end wall. Further, tearing along the inside or secondscore line is only slight during the severing of the score line 3 aroundthe periphery of the end wall. If, however, the acute inwardly directedare was not provided for in the score configuration, the thin metal ofthe end wall 2 would in many instances fracture and tear across from theinside second score line 5 to the outer peripheral score line 3, thusbreaking the opening tab 8 and attached short tear strip portion awayfrom the container end wall 2 before the tear-out panel was entirelyremoved. The acute inwardly directed are 10 of the score line 5 relievesany applied opening force that would have a tendency to rip the metalacross the strip from the inner score line 5 to the peripheral scoreline 3 as the peripheral score line is being progressively severedaround the container end wall 2. It is for this reason that the acuteinwardly directed arc 10 may actually terminate pointing in theapproximate direction of the point 13 on the peripheral score line 3.

FIG. 3 shows the container end wall 2. partially opened when the scoreconfiguration is in accordance with this invention. The opening tab 8 ispulled outwardly from the container end wall 2 to initially rupture thescoring at the starting end of the tear strip 7 and separate the tearstrip section 11 from the end wall 2. As the opening force is continuedas by pulling on the opening tab, the force progressively severs theouter peripheral score line 3 around the entire periphery of the endwall 2 while the short narrow tear strip portion 11 twists in the shapeof a helix. It is also important that by employing this invention thetear strip desirably is helix-shaped and does not have a tendency tokink during the opening operation. Kinking of the tear strip isdesirably avoided as the metal would have a strong tendency to fractureat the point of stress caused by a kink and the tab and tear strip wouldbreak off prior to complete removal of the tear-out panel of the endwall 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are alternative forms of the invention hereinabovedescribed and each form functions in the same manner and has the samedesirable characteristics. In FIGURE 4, the starting end 7 of thetear-strip 11 is near the periphery of the end wall 2 and the insidesecond score line 5 terminates in an acute inwardly directed are 10intermediate the center and periphery of the end wall 2. The short tearstrip '11 is primarily along the periphery of the end wall 2.

The score configuration shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that shown in FIG.2 except that the first score line 3 is not continuously arcuate fromthe starting end 7 to the outer periphery of the end wall 2 at a point13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but rather it is initially arcuate thenhas a substantially straight line portion meeting the periphery of theend wall 2 at the point 13.

The description in specific detail of the selected practice of theinvention will suggest to those skilled in the art, various changes,substitutions and other departures from any disclosure within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines atear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portionhaving a starting end to which an opening tab is attached, said tearstrip portion being defined by a first score line and a second scoreline which meet at the starting end of said tear strip to formcontinuous scorings, said score lines as they extend from said startingend being substantially equal distances apart so as to define a tearstrip portion of narrow, substantially uniform width, said first scoreline extending toward and then around the periphery of the end wall, andsaid second score line beyond said tear strip portion diverginggradually from said first score line and terminating in an acuteinwardly directed arc, whereby fracturing and tearing across the tearstrip portion is avoided when the tear-out panel is removed by exertingforce on the opening tab.

2. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines atear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portionhaving a starting end to which an opening tab is attached located nearthe center of the end wall, said tear strip portion being defined by afirst score line and a second score line which meet at the starting endof said tear strip portion to form continuous scorings, .said scorelines as they extend from said starting end being substantially equaldistances apart so as to define a tear strip portion of narrow,substantially uniform width, said first score line extending toward andthen around the periphery of the end wall, and said second score linebeyond said tear strip portion diverging gradually from said first scoreline and terminating in an acute inwardly directed arc, whereby fractureand tearing across the tear strip portion is avoided when the tear-outpanel is removed by exerting force on the opening tab.

3. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines atear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portionhaving a starting end to which an opening tab is attached located nearthe center of the end wall, said tear strip portion being defined by afirst score line and a second score line which meet at the starting endof said tear strip portion to form continuous scorings, said score linesas they extend from said starting end being substantially equaldistances apart and arcuate so as to define an arcuate tear stripportion of narrow, substantially uniform width, said first score lineextending arcuately from the starting end to and then around theperiphery of the end wall, and said second score line beyond said tearstrip portion diverging gradually from said first score line andterminating in an acute inwardly directed arc, whereby fracture andtearing across the tear strip portion is avoided when the tear-out panelis removed by exerting force on the opening tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1965' Huth 220-54 5/1966 Bozek22054-

1. A CONTAINAR HAVING AN END WALL PROVIDED WITH SCORING WHICH DEFINES ATEAR-OUT PANEL TO BE REMOVED, INCLUDING A SHORT TEAR STRIP PORTIONHAVING A STARTING END TO WHICH AN OPENING TAB IS ATTACHED, SAID TEARSTRIP PORTION BEING DEFINED BY A FIRST SCORE LINE AND A SECOND SCORELINE WHICH MEET AT THE STARTING END OF SAID TEAR STRIP TO FORMCONTINUOUS SCORINGS, SAID SCORE LINES AS THEY EXTEND FROM SAID STARTINGEND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DISTANCES APART SO AS TO DEFINE A TEARSTRIP PORTION OF NARROW, SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH, SAID FIRST SCORELINE EXTENDING TOWARD AND THEN AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE END WALL, ANDSAID SECOND SCORE LINE BEYOND SAID TEAR STRIP PORTION DIVERGINGGRADUALLY FROM SAID FIRST SCORE LINE AND TERMINATING IN AN ACUTEINWARDLY DIRECTED ARC, WHEREBY FRACTURING AND TEARING ACROSS THE TEARSTRIP PORTION IS AVOIDED WHEN THE TEAR-OUT PANEL IS REMOVED BY EXERTINGFORCE ON THE OPENING TAB.